Please, Please Stop
VARIETY: 'Indiana Jones 4' finally has a scriptParamount to begin filming pic in June By PAMELA MCCLINTOCK
After years of languishing in development, the fourth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise is finally moving ahead, as Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Harrison Ford look to reconnect with their blockbuster roots.
For Spielberg in particular, the project marks a return to the kind of pure entertainment fare on which he built his career before his interests turned to more social-minded fare like "Schindler's List," "Saving Private Ryan" and "Munich."
The trio confirmed Monday that Paramount is set to begin lensing the new Indiana Jones pic in June from a script by David Koepp ("Spider-Man").
Par and Lucasfilm, which is producing, are eyeing a May 2008 worldwide release -- some 19 years after the last film in the action-adventure franchise, "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," came out.
Fans have long clamored for another installment in the series, but some questioned whether Ford would be able to keep up with the vigorous physical requirements of the role after the long delay. "I'm delighted to be back in business with my old friends. I don't know if the pants still fit, but I know the hat will," said Ford, who is 64.
Thesp, who will again topline, had always said he would reprise his role as the adventuring archeologist if he liked the script. Several scribes tried their hand at the project before Koepp was brought aboard in 2005.
"We feel that the script was well worth the wait. We hope it delivers everything you'd expect from our history with Indiana Jones," Spielberg said. "George, Harrison and I are all very excited."
Producer is Frank Marshall, while Kathleen Kennedy and Lucas are exec producing.
For Paramount, the greenlight seems to be another benefit of its pricey acquisition of DreamWorks.
The film doesn't yet have an official title. Producers wouldn't disclose the storyline other than to say there would be plenty of action. Pic will be shot in undisclosed points around the globe, as well as in the U.S.
All told, the first three "Indiana Jones" films grossed more than $1.18 billion at the box office.
The upcoming installment is looking to be Spielberg's next directing project. The helmer continues to alternate wider-appeal projects with more serious dramas: He's also slated to helm "Lincoln," with Liam Neeson attached to star, for DreamWorks. He was last in theaters with "Munich."
Project reunites Spielberg and Koepp, who penned helmer's "War of the Worlds" and "Jurassic Park," among other pics.
Lucas was grand marshal of the 118th annual Rose Parade on Monday, celebrating the 30th anniversary of "Star Wars."
*************************************************************************************
What's worse than hearing the news of a franchise overstaying its welcome?
The news that a screenwriter you don't like is writing the latest installment.
Labels: david koepp, indiana jones, indy 4, lucas, spielberg, variety
posted by Jeff Pidgeon at
10:52 PM
5 Comments:
Hey Jeff
I agree about Koepp, I didn't care for Lost World, or War of the Worlds, they both took something great and added a bit to much cheese on top. However, I am excited about a new Jones, and I'm trusting that they have done there homework, I'm hopeful this won't be like the newer Star Wars, I know George let you down with those...me too. It really blew me away that it has been 18 years since the last one though...WOW.
-Jeremy
This is bad news to me. Ford will be - how old again?..(checks IMDB)...66 years old in this film. That's a lot of suspension of disbelief. When "Last Crusade" came out, Sean Connery- playing Indy's dad- was 59 years old.
During the scenes not performed by stuntmen and CG Joneses I'll be worrying about him breaking his hip or something. It's no fun watching a 66-year old man fall off of a train or get hit in the face. I really hope this movie is stopped before the Jones franchise becomes a laughing stock.
My wish - if this has to happen at all - would be more intrigue and less action, more of a John Le Carré spy novel. That could fit nicely in the fifties (or early sixties), too. A Cold War story could be neat.
I'll be curious to see what artifact is the macguffin this time. I couldn't really think of anything except Excalibur, and I don't think that would really work.
It's not that I think a good new Indy is impossible, I just don't think the current Raiders template will work with an older actor. I'm afraid they won't change it enough to accomodate for Ford's age.
Excalibur...mmmhh, interesting thought. My thought is that they will make something up for the macguffin, I wonder if the storyline will focus around technology (ancient vs. modern)? It was an era of possibilities and odd gadgets. Maybe Indy will have to find an ancient gadget of sorts to defeat a new threat. Ahh who knows. The Cold War idea could be cool.
I'm not sure making up a macguffin would work well... part of what made Raiders cool is that the ark is really part of recorded history. I know that Temple of Doom had a lot of other problems, but I think making up the Shankara stones was a mistake.
Maybe they could do something with the Enigma decoding device. There was a movie about it a while back, but I think there's a better film to be made about it.
Post a Comment
<< Home